A Portrait Of Our Community

The commitment of United Way of the Greater Capital Region to advance the common good has at its heart using the best research and social development practices to address the underlying causes of problems. United Way’s goal is to apply research, such as the information found here, to support and develop the building blocks of a good life, which include the broad spectrums of education, income and health.

The Greater Capital Region Community Profile gives us and those who use it a baseline of information from which to strategize, plan and work cooperatively to improve lives and shape communities.  The Profile measures the well-being of the five-county region surrounding New York State’s capital in four critical areas: basic needs, family supports, financial stability and literacy.

The challenges facing our region are not confined by town, city or county borders, nor should the solutions be restricted by such boundaries. By harnessing the resources of all the counties of the Capital Region, we are better able to effect lasting change for all.
Developing and examining community profiles is a data-driven way of taking the pulse of a community on a wide range of topics and over a number of years. This project answers questions such as:

• How many children in the region are living in poverty?
• What is the median home value in the region?
• How do test scores in the region compare with those in other regions of the state?
• What is the state of the region’s economy? How does that compare to the state and nation?

Communities across the U.S. and the world are turning to indicator projects like this one to assess their regions, quantify strengths and challenges, determine priorities and launch community-wide discussions about improving their quality of life. This project covers Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady and Schoharie counties in New York State.

Learn more about the project...